Automobile brake



July 20, 1937 J. F. SHENEMAN 2,087,819

AUTOMOBILE BRAKE Filed Opt. 17, 1936 A a Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor I Fflewemaw Attorneys July 20, 1937 J. F. SHENEMAN 2,087,819

AUTOMOBILE BRAKE Filed Oct. 17, 1936 5 Sheets-=Sheet 2 Inventor v F fiene'man Attorney;

July 20, 1937 J. F. SHENEMAN 2,087,819

AUTOMOBILE BRAKE Filed 001;. 17, 1936 I 5 Sfieejzs-Sheet' 3 Z; 7 I Z3 0 v 27 33 20 Z2 g 24 Inventor J Ffleneman A itomeys Patented July 20, 1937- UNITED, ,STATES abs-1,819

PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The presentinvention relates to new and useful improvements in brakes for automobiles and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a novel mechanism, p-

erable by vacuum or suction created by the engine, for automatically applying the brakes of the vehicle when the accelerator is released.

Another very important object of the inven-= tion is to provide an automatic brake operating means of the aforementioned character embodying a construction and arrangement which is such that it will interfere no way with the manual application of the brakes in the usual manner.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide an automatic brake operating means of the character described for automobiles which may readily be rendered inoperative when desired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an automatic brake operating means for automobiles which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings 3 wherein like .characters'of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the fluid pressure motor and its support.

Figure 3 is a detail view in elevation, looking at the inner side of one of the fluid pressure motor disks.

Figure 4 is a detail view in elevation, looking at the outer side of one of the fluid pressure motor disks,

Figure 5 is a detail view principally in horizontal section through the control valve.

Figure 6 is a detail view in side elevation of the control valve base, looking at the inner side thereof.

Figure 7 is a detail view of the rotary plate or disk constituting a part of the control valve.

Figure 8 is a detail view in elevation of the fiuid pressure motor with one. of the disks removed and looking at the interior thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention,

- lubricating the rod 9 in the socket l 2.

which has been illustrated comprises a substantially tubular post I which is pivotally mounted, as at .2, for swinging movement in a vertical plane on a suitable support, such as the frame 3 of the vehicle. As shown to advantage in Figure 2 of 5 the drawings, the post I is closed at its pivoted end and open at its free end. Mounted on the free end of the tubular post I is a fluid pressure motor which is designated generally by the reference numeral 4. The fluid 0 pressure motor 4 comprises flexible disks 5 and 6 having their outermarginal portions secured to opposite sides of a ring I in a manner to prevent leakage. The ring I is supported on a spider 8 which is slidably mounted on a rod 9. The rod 9, 15 it will be observed, passes through the fluid pres- I sure motor 4 into the tubular post I. .The disk 6 is secured on the free end portion of the post I as at Ill and the disk 5 is secured on the rod 9, as at l l. The forward end portion of the rod 9 is slidably engaged in a guide socket l2 which is provided therefor in the lower end portion of the post I, said guide socket l2 being provided with a vent l3. A suitable fitting I4 is provided for At its rear end, the rod 9 is coupled to the usual brake pedal l5 of the vehicle by a pin and slot connection It.

Reference numeral I'I designates a vacuum tank which is connected by a pipe l8 to the intake manifold of the automobile engine. A check "valve I9 is provided in the pipe l8, said check valve opening toward the engine. Reference humeral 28 designates generally a control valve which is mounted on the vacuum tank I! for communication therewith through the medium of an elbow 2|.

As illustrated to advantage in Figure 5 of the drawings, the valve 20 includes a base 22 mounted on the elbow 2|. Mounted on the base 22 is p a casing .23 which is connected by conduit means 24, including a fieidble section; to the tubular post- I. The base 22 is provided with a vacuum port 25 communicating with the elbow 2| and a vent 26. Extending rotatably into the casing 23 is a stem 21 having fixed on its inner end a disk 28 which is rotatably engaged with the base 22. The casing 23 is recessed, as at 29, for rotatably accommodating the peripheral portion of the disk 28. A coil spring 30 in the casing 23 yieldingly urges thedisk 28 against the base 22. A suitable fitting 3| is provided for lubricating the valve disk 28. Fixed on the outer end portion of the stem 21 is an arm '32. A packing 33 is provided for preventing leakage around the stem 21 where it passes through the casing 23. The valve disk 26 1s provided with a port 34 for registry with the port 26 or the vent 26.

. An accelerator pedal 36 is hingedly mounted at one end, as at 36, on the toe board 31 of the automobile. A coil spring 36 yieldingly supports the free end of the accelerator pedal 36. A rod 39 has one end connected to the accelerator pedal 36 and its other end secured to the arm 32.- The reference numeral 40 designates the accelerator rod to the throttle valve of the engine, said rod being actuated by the foot pedal 36.

The reference numeral 4| designates a flexible rod having one endportion slidably connected to the arm 32 of the valve 20. A collar 42 is adJustably secured on the rod 4| for abutting engagement with the arm 32. The flexible rod 4| extends slidably through a housing 43 to the instrument board 44 of the automobile where it is provided with an operating knob or button 46. A resilient latch 46 is provided for releasably securing the rod 4i in set position. It will be noted that the spring 36 normally maintains the accelerator pedal 36 in spaced relation to the rod 46.

Briefly, the operation of the device is substantially as follows:

When the pedal 36 is depressed against the the port 34 out of registry with the port 25,

thereby cutting off the fluid pressure motor 4 from communication with the vacuum tank H. v

. 26 for venting the fluid pressure motor 4.- By

spacing the pedal 35, when in its fully raised or retracted position, from the rod 46 it will be observed that initial lndependent downward movement of said pedal 36 may be had. When the pedal is depressed into engagement with the adjacent end of the rod the suction or vacuum is broken, thereby releasing the brakes. When in this position the compression of the engine may be utilized in the usual manner for decelerating the vehicle. For a slight application of the brakes by suction or vacuum, the pedal 36, after being released, is returned to a position between its fully raised position and the rod 46. To render the apparatus inoperative it is only neces- 5 sary to push the rod 4| forwardly with the stop collar 42 thereon, therebyv preventing the spring 36 from raising the pedal 36 out of engagement with the accelerator rod 40. By reason of the pin and slot connection l6 the brake pedal ll of the vehicle may be manually operated in the usual manner.

It is believed that the many advantages of an automatic automobile brake operating means constructed in accordance with the present in- 15 vention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and inthe combination and arrangement of parts may be 20 resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:- 1. Ina brake mechanism comprising a foot pedal for applying the brakes, a vacuum tank, a 25 substantially tubular -post, said post being closed at one end and open at its other end, a fluid pressure motor mounted on the open end of the post and communicating therewith, a rod extending throughlthe fluid pressure motor and secured to thereto for actuation thereby, one end portion of said rod being. slidably engaged in the post, means connecting the other end of the rod to the foot pedal, and valve controlled conduit means connecting the tubular post to the vacuum tank. 36

2. In a motor vehicle comprising a brake operating pedal, a substantially tubular, pivotally mounted post, said post being closed at its pivoted end and open at its free'end, a fluid pressure motor mounted on the free end of the post and 40 communicating therewith, said post having a guide socket in its closed end portion, a rod operatively connected to the brake pedal and extending through the fluid pressure motor and sea cured thereto for actuation thereby, one end portion of said rod being slidably engaged in the; guide socket,,a vacuum tank, conduit means connecting the fluid pressure motor to the vacuum tank, a valve for controlling said conduit means, and means for connecting said valve to the aco celerator pedal of the automobile for actuation thereby.

- JOSEPH F. SHENEMANt 

